diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
index 54671a1388..6fab056c79 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
@@ -633,6 +633,18 @@ std::recursive_mutex* AchievementManager::GetLock()
   return &m_lock;
 }
 
+bool AchievementManager::IsHardcoreModeActive() const
+{
+  std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
+  if (!Config::Get(Config::RA_HARDCORE_ENABLED))
+    return false;
+  if (!Core::IsRunning())
+    return true;
+  if (!IsGameLoaded())
+    return false;
+  return (m_runtime.trigger_count + m_runtime.lboard_count > 0);
+}
+
 std::string AchievementManager::GetPlayerDisplayName() const
 {
   return IsLoggedIn() ? m_display_name : "";
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
index be2469dc9e..e790e0bc1c 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ public:
   void AchievementEventHandler(const rc_runtime_event_t* runtime_event);
 
   std::recursive_mutex* GetLock();
+  bool IsHardcoreModeActive() const;
   std::string GetPlayerDisplayName() const;
   u32 GetPlayerScore() const;
   const BadgeStatus& GetPlayerBadge() const;
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ private:
 
   Common::WorkQueueThread<std::function<void()>> m_queue;
   Common::WorkQueueThread<std::function<void()>> m_image_queue;
-  std::recursive_mutex m_lock;
+  mutable std::recursive_mutex m_lock;
 };  // class AchievementManager
 
 #endif  // USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.cpp
index a425605f8c..5edaa6a54c 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2023 Dolphin Emulator Project
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 
+#ifdef USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
 #include "Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h"
 
 #include <string>
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ const Info<bool> RA_LEADERBOARDS_ENABLED{
     {System::Achievements, "Achievements", "LeaderboardsEnabled"}, false};
 const Info<bool> RA_RICH_PRESENCE_ENABLED{
     {System::Achievements, "Achievements", "RichPresenceEnabled"}, false};
+const Info<bool> RA_HARDCORE_ENABLED{{System::Achievements, "Achievements", "HardcoreEnabled"},
+                                     false};
 const Info<bool> RA_PROGRESS_ENABLED{{System::Achievements, "Achievements", "ProgressEnabled"},
                                      false};
 const Info<bool> RA_BADGES_ENABLED{{System::Achievements, "Achievements", "BadgesEnabled"}, false};
@@ -26,3 +29,5 @@ const Info<bool> RA_UNOFFICIAL_ENABLED{{System::Achievements, "Achievements", "U
                                        false};
 const Info<bool> RA_ENCORE_ENABLED{{System::Achievements, "Achievements", "EncoreEnabled"}, false};
 }  // namespace Config
+
+#endif  // USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h b/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h
index b17d00c65f..15277ca043 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2023 Dolphin Emulator Project
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 
+#ifdef USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
 #pragma once
 
 #include "Common/Config/Config.h"
@@ -14,8 +15,11 @@ extern const Info<std::string> RA_API_TOKEN;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_ACHIEVEMENTS_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_LEADERBOARDS_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_RICH_PRESENCE_ENABLED;
+extern const Info<bool> RA_HARDCORE_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_PROGRESS_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_BADGES_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_UNOFFICIAL_ENABLED;
 extern const Info<bool> RA_ENCORE_ENABLED;
 }  // namespace Config
+
+#endif  // USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS